Gibbs Hill Challenge “fantastic”
Frank Johansson at the start of the challenge.
The Gibbs Hill Challenge’s 97 competitors and support crew coped well and broke records last Sunday, despite slippery slopes created by heavy rain the previous day.
The duathlon consists of a 23-kilometre road cycle followed by a 21km run to Totoranui via Gibbs Hill and around the coastal track to Wainui car park, where riders then hop on their bikes and cycle back to town.
Organiser Wouter de Maat said the turnout this year was overwhelming, and numbers were well up on last year’s.
“It was fantastic and so brilliantly supported by Golden Bay people. I was blown away by that.”
Of the initial 70 entries, only 54 started on the day due to the unpredictable weather forecast, but 28 of those were team entries. Only four were non-Golden Bay teams.
“Everybody had been concerned about the weather and it was leaning from time to time towards the odd shower, but it was dry during the race, which was also good for the marshals,” Wouter continued. “I am really rapt with the overall response and especially with the number of women competing. I think a lot of them were preparing for the upcoming Spring Challenge in Motueka.”
Only two people pulled out during the event, Wouter said. One person rolled an ankle coming down Gibbs Hill and another had a back injury.
This 11th Gibbs Hill race also saw some record-breaking times, although for some, like adventure racer Nathan Fa’avae, it was probably a mere warm-up.
Nathan came first, setting a new record total time of 3 hours and 15 minutes (last year’s record was 3hrs 35mins) in the individual category. He has been organising and directing mainly cycle events, but also some triathlons and adventure racing, since 1992. He was a semi-professional and full-time professional athlete from 1991-2005, after retiring as Adventure Racing World Champion. He has competed at national level in kayaking, cycling, running and multisport, as well as internationally in mountain-biking and adventure racing.
The female racers achieved their own victories. The first local woman home was mother of five and inexhaustible fitness instructor Georgie Stone. Klaartje van Schien from Motueka was first woman home overall in a record-breaking time of 3 hours and 52 minutes.
Jackie and Joe MacIntyre from Nelson were the first team back in 3 hours and 34 minutes. Second placing was awarded to local team Jason Welsford and Pat Weir.
“Outstanding was also young Ari Kingan,” said Wouter. “He’s only 17, I think, and he did the whole course as an individual and came sixth in the overall individual, in 3 hours and 47 minutes.”
Ari’s grandfather, Frank Johansson, in his seventies, was the oldest participant, racing as a team member.
There were great prizes to be won. Three fantastic wooden trophies made by Grant Knowles were awarded to first male home, first female and first team home. Among the spot prizes for Golden Bay competitors was a canvas picture from Peter Geen, won by Christine Salmon. A second spot prize, open to all competitors, was a weekend away for two at the Sans Souci Inn.
Ina Holst
